Save money and "D.I.Y" or hire a "DJ"???

You've found the perfect venue, saved money by switching from plated food to a buffet, chose a smaller cake, hired a friend, aunt, or cousin to take wedding pictures,  and maybe even purchased your own decorations as well as involved your wedding party to assist in the decorating process,

NOW the question is Do you hire a DJ, or save money plug your phone in and use an MP3 player?
Before rushing out to best buy and shopping for a brand name MP3 player that holds a lot of memory consider the Pros and Cons.

Pros

1. You save money.
2.  You get to decide exactly what songs are played.
   

This is a once in a lifetime event,or at least it should be. Many people do not realize how important a DJ is to the reception.

Your guests will overlook the food if it isn't great, and most likely after a few days they won't be talking about how perfect the chicken was prepared, that is of course unless they are a chef in a restaurant.

They will notice the decorations, but forget about them after the first hour they are there. They will however remember the experience they had while at your reception. Was the reception fun?
Did they hear the announcements?
Did they get to see all the fun things that occurred at your wedding?
Were people having a good time dancing?
Was the DJ fun and engaging announcing your events such as the 1st dance or the bouquet toss?
As you can see a DJ is REALLY, and I must stress again a R E A L L Y important part of your event, and will make or break the outcome of your reception......

.
Cons

1. Not everyone at your reception will like the music you've chosen. A DJ will play to everyone from your little niece or nephew to your great grandma or grandpa's favorite jam.
2. No one to announce events 1st dance etc...The DJ announces you as husband and wife for your grand entrance, your 1st dance etc.., With nobody to get people excited about your entrance, garter removal and garter toss etc... it makes for a boring wedding.The DJ gets the crowd excited especially when announcing said events.
3. I hope you have thoroughly thought about what events you are doing, and at what time you're doing those events. A really good DJ will coordinate all events and keep the evening running stress free.
4. Your aunt or cousin is in the bathroom and you need her or him to take the pic of your 1st dance, or the caterer needs to bring out the cake cause your ready to cut it. An excellent DJ will communicate with your other vendors to ensure such things as, when your ready for your toasts-- the champagne is poured, or the photographer is ready for that 1st dance pic
   
5. Lastly, What equipment are you hooking the MP3 player up to a speaker??? We use DJ equipment with 2 top speakers and a sub-woofer to fill in the sound. In addition we actually mix song to song ensuring its a party and not like an mp3 player that fades in and out of every song.